Industry Ink: Leadership Music, CMA, YEP

Leadership Music Deadline Approaching

The deadline to apply for Leadership Music’s Class of 2018 is tomorrow, Tuesday, Feb. 28. Applications from established industry leaders will be accepted online only at www.leadershipmusic.org/apply/  until midnight tomorrow. The selection process begins in early April, and applicants are notified of their selection in late May.

CMA Reveals Research Data, Welcomes Attendees For CRS

Pictured (L-R): CMA Senior Manager of Market Research Courtney Ledford, CMA Senior Director of Market Research Karen Stump, and CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms after CMA’s breakout session “Trending and Spending: The Country Radio Consumer” Thursday during the 2017 Country Radio Seminar in Nashville.
Photo: Devin Garrett / CMA

As thousands of Country radio broadcasters traveled to Nashville for Country Radio Seminar (CRS), CMA hosted events to welcome attendees, share valuable insights revealing the power of the Country Music radio consumer, and offer best practices regarding entries for the CMA Broadcast Awards.

“In the 60 years since CMA was founded, Country Music has grown in a way the Association’s visionary founders could have only imagined,” said CMA Chief Marketing Officer Damon Whiteside. “Today the Country Music genre is stronger than ever and has become the single largest radio format, a direct result of the tireless efforts of the men and women working in Country radio.”

On Thursday, CMA’s research team showcased data revealing the spending power of Country radio listeners compared to listeners of other popular radio formats. The presentation provided the radio industry with key insights regarding how advertisers can connect with the Country Music radio audience across six key categories—retail, communications, financial services, automotive, restaurants, and travel—accounting for more than $1.4 billion in annual radio ad spending. To view “Trending and Spending: The Country Music Radio Consumer” research deck, visit CMA’s research page by clicking here. CMA members can visit my.cmaworld.com for exclusive studies.

Rounding out CMA’s formal events at CRS was Friday’s breakout session, “And the CMA Broadcast Award Goes to…,” with CMA Senior Director of Awards and Industry Relations Brandi Simms. CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year and Board member Lon Helton also spoke on the panel. Hundreds of Country radio stations and personalities vie for the prestigious CMA Broadcast Awards each year, so attendees learned eligibility requirements and best practices for Broadcast Awards consideration.

RaeLynn Joins YEP At The Opry

Pictured (L-R): Caroline Melby, YEP Board Member; Amelia Varni, YEP Executive Director; RaeLynn, artist; Katie Roth, YEP Board Member; Emma Joseph, Grand Ole Opry Manager of Digital Content Development & Promotion.

YEP members Caroline Melby, Amelia Varni, and Katie Roth met with Warner Music Nashville artist RaeLynn backstage at the Grand Ole Opry recently.